Shooting Range Etiquette
Ron Gunner 05.15.17
Range etiquette is something which a lot of people lack in today’s world. I have seen with my own eyes as a friend brought his new pistol to the range and after he shot it a few times, a guy walked up and grabbed it without asking, said, “I’m going to shoot this beast,” and then slid in a loaded mag and start shooting. And without ever even asking to see it, hold it, and let alone shoot it!
Needless to say my friend was about to blow up but knew that was not the place for it, another important thing to remember!
Now of course, there are always going to be guys or gals that are curious about what you are shooting. And if it’s a real attention-grabber–like everyone is shooting 9mm and you blast off a 500 mag–you can bet there will be a crowd around you in no time!
Proper range etiquette dictates that if you’re interested in someone else’s gun, stand back and do not crowd them. Feel free to ask a few questions but not so many that you become a pest. Then if you see that they are open to your curiosity, you can then become more specific and possibly even ask to hold and look at the object of your interest. Then if all goes right, and you should be able to tell, then and only then should you ask if you may try it out.
Bear in mind that some people will NEVER be receptive to others coming around and showing interest in what they are shooting, it’s just the way some people are. You will get nowhere pestering those folks, so keep your distance.
If you have the same caliber gun and you’ve been given the go-ahead to shoot it, range etiquette dictates that you offer to use your own ammo–as long as it is NEW FACTORY AMMO. Never try to shoot your reloads through someone else’s gun. You never want to take that chance of the one bad reload going off in someone else’s gun!
Range etiquette also dictates that you never–and I mean NEVER–reach into another shooter’s range bag any any time, for any reason.
If you are a reloader and have observed a shooter letting their brass lay on the ground, don’t pick it up for yourself until you’ve asked if he or she intends to save it.
All it takes is a little common sense to follow range etiquette, and who knows? Perhaps just knowing how to act at the range may help you get into a gun club that may be selective about their members.
Stay safe, hope to see you out there!
